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Observation Date
12/20/2012
Observer Name
Kikkert
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
Cardiff
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
Another nice cold clear morning. Winds were light in the early AM, beginning to pick up around noon on our exit. Much stronger later in the afternoon, with large plumes of snow coming off the higher peaks around Alta.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Travel was Holy Toledo to High Ivory. Cardiff continues to exhibit one of the stronger snowpacks in the area, so hesitate somewhat to label the structure a red flag. However, there are still areas of poor structure in thin rocky areas, between 9200 and 9500', and on some west facing slopes (see below). No collapsing and although there was no wind loading when we were out, there was later.
Dug 3 pits heading up High Ivory (east facing), one down low at 9,200', one at 9,500' and one around 10,000'. At 9,200 feet total snow depth was approximately 60cm, with about 30 cm of 4 finger snow on top of 30 cm of mostly stout (couple inches thick) rain crusts...bomber. At 9,500', right at what has been considered the upper distribution of the rain crust, there was a very thin crust approximately 100cm down. Could get moderate to difficult shears below the crust (CT21Q3) on facets that, based on the lack of a clean shear, appear to be starting to heal a bit. At 10,000' the crust had disappeared, and even though there was still obvious 4-finger facets from late November, could not get anything to fail or propagate in an ECT (ECTX). That said, also plenty of places near rocks and on west facing (near Holy Toledo) where you could find much weaker snow poking down with a ski pole, so still are probably places, even in these areas of stronger snowpack where you could get something to go. Would like to see another large load added with no activity. Wind slabs will be the primary concern tomorrow morning.
FORECASTER COMMENTS: I received a number of observations from Cardiff last night and I feel that Kikkert described conditions the best. I agree that the overall the snowpack structure is not too bad in this drainage, albeit you can find those shallower more rotten areas, so, labeling poor snowpack structure as a red flag is boarderline. Kobernik